Controversies
In October 2003, Combs was under intense media attention for using sweatshop labour to produce his clothing line. Among the accusations, originally put forth by the National Labor Committee (NLC), workers were subjected to body searches, fired if pregnant and paid sweatshop wages. Combs responded to the BBC that there would be a "zero tolerance" investigation at Sean John. He stated to a group of reporters, "I'm as pro-worker as they get."
In late 2006, MSNBC reported that Macy's had pulled from its shelves and its Web site two styles of Sean John hooded jackets, originally advertised as featuring faux fur, after an investigation by the nation's largest animal protection organization concluded that the garments were actually made from Raccoon Dog. Combs, the label's founder, said he had been unaware of the material, but as soon as he knew about it, he had his clothing line stop using the material.
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